Fleet Foxes Working On Sophomore Album, Due in 2010

Fleet Foxes are burrowed in a Seattle studio, working on the followup to their auspicious 2008 debut. According to singer and guitarist Robin Pecknold, the album is in "a very early stage of recording."

"It's only been in the past month or two that we've been home long enough," Pecknold told Pitchfork. "We're done touring now until we're done with the next record. It's been crazy just being home for an extended time. Now, we're working on stuff every day, and there's a few other projects going on at the same time. So now is when we're writing and starting to record the new album."

The Sub Pop-signed band has rented out Death Cab for Cutie's former studio, where Nirvana also recorded Bleach.

"It has this cool feeling to it," he explained. "I mean, it's probably just psychosomatic, but it has this vibe to it. I'm just going down there every day and writing songs, which I haven't had the chance to do in a long time. It's been almost two years since we recorded anything, which is just crazy to me."

The singer revealed that the new songs Fleet Foxes have been working on are "less poppy" and while not dark, likely "a little bit less upbeat."

"I think it will just be a different feeling instead of mellow," he said. "But positive-- it will just be a different feeling from that. Different chord shapes, some extended. On the first record, I kind of wanted to avoid any extended grooves. But there's definitely a couple of those coming in now, where the guitar part almost sounds like it could be a sample, just because it's kind of repetitive, and then just kind of a groove built around that part."

Pecknold also said that he's been working on "soundtrack stuff" and a side project with his sister (and Fleet Foxes' manager) Aja and Past Lives' Morgan Henderson in a band called Rainbow Fang. As for his other solo endeavor of covering other songs, White Antelope, the Fleet Foxes frontman explained that it's more of a personal project and he has no interest in releasing a solo album.

And what of the release date of the Fleet Foxes sophomore album? "Definitely 2010," Pecknold stated. "There's no way it wouldn't be next year. But probably the early second half, or mid-second half, stocking-stuffer style."